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Colonel SAMUEL A. HOLMES, Comdg.
SECOND Brigadier , Seventh Div. , SEVENTEENTH Army Corps. CAPTAIN: In compliance with Special Orders, Numbers 27, from your headquarters, of date May 24, 1863, I herewith submit a report of marches, battles, and other operations of the SEVENTEENTH Iowa since leaving Milliken's Bend (April 20) to May 24. April 20, the regiment left Milliken's Bend at 9 a. m. , and marched 12 miles, to Richmond, La. Went into camp at 3 p. m. , and remained until April 25. At 9 o'clock a. m. , marched 10 miles, to Holmes' plantation, and bivouacked. April 26, at 6 a. m. , marched 8 miles, to SMITH's plantation, and bivouacked at 12 m. , and remained until April 28. At 9 a. m. marched 4 miles through mud from 4 to 6 inches deep, and bivouacked near Colonel Fisk's (rebel) plantation. April 29, marched 12 miles, and bivouacked at 12 m. at Perkins' plantation. April 30, at 6 a. m. , marched 12 miles, and
bivouacked 6 miles from the place of crossing the river. May 2, at 6 a. m. , marched 10 miles to Port Gibson, and halted in the town to await the reconstruction of the bridge across Big Bayou Pierre, which the rebels had burned in their retreat. At 4 p. m. crossed the bayou and marched 8 miles by 8 o'clock, and bivouacked in a field. May 3, marched 1 mile to bridge across Little Bayou Pierre and awaited the repairing of it. The rebels were but a short distance on the other side. We crossed, and shortly afterward our brigade was ordered into position on the left of the road to Big Black River, the SEVENTEENTH and Eightieth in line and the Tenth Missouri in advance, skirmishing; but not finding the enemy, we were shortly ordered forward, and marched 4 miles, and went into camp near Big Black River, where we remained (occasionally capturing a few rebels while on picket) until May 9. At 5. 30 a. m. same day marched 12 miles on Jackson road, and bivouacked on the crest of a pine ridge. May 10, marched 10 miles, and bivouacked in a thick underbrush 3 ½ miles WEST of Utica. May 11, marched 2 miles to a more comfortable position. May 12, marched 9 miles to within 2 ½ miles of Raymond, expecting to join in the engagement which was progressing. On our arrival my regiment (together with the Tenth Missouri and Eightieth Ohio, of our brigade) was formed in line of battle on the crest of a hill commanding the valley in which the battle was raging. While here, the Tenth and Eightieth were ordered forward, while my regiment was left on the hill for perhaps FIFTEEN minutes, when it was ordered forward by General Crocker (commanding Seventh DIVISION), and marched 3 miles to a point one-half mile northwest of Raymond, and bivouacked at 9 p. m. May 13, marched 10 miles, and bivouacked 2 miles east of Clinton; stormy weather. May 14, marched 4 miles, and were formed in line of battle, my regiment on the left of the Jackson road, the right resting against said road, and were ordered forward (through a pelting rain) in line of battle, and advanced without resistance for perhaps 1 ½ miles, when I encountered the enemy's skirmishers, and was shortly after hotly engaged, losing 16 killed, 60 wounded, 1 disabled by a shell, and 3 MISSING; making an aggregate of 80, or 23 percent, of the number engaged (350), as per official report. My skirmishers entered the fortifications
(containing four pieces of artillery) and occupied them until ordered forward into the
city. We encamped in the suburbs of the city
for the night, and procured a supply of meal and bacon for my boys, who had been for some
days on short rations. May 16, marched 12 miles to Champion's Hill, where as desperate battle was being fought; were double-quicked through dust and a burning sun, and immediately formed in line of battle on the left of the Vicksburg (dirt) road, from which point I charged the enemy, who were severely pressing the center of our lines, driving him in confusion before me, completely routing and scattering his center, and capturing a stand of colors, 175 prisoners, and recapturing four pieces of artillery which had been previously captured, but retaken by the enemy. After the battle I rested my wearied boys on the roadsides until 5 o'clock, when we were ordered into camp. In the engagement I lost 5 killed, 49 wounded, 1 MISSING, and 2 disabled; making an aggregate of 57, or 25 per cent. of the number engaged (which was between 200 and 230), as per official report. May 17 and 18, engaged in burying the dead and attending to the wounded. May 19, marched 7 miles to Big Black River, and were formed in line of battle while the trains were crossing the pontoons, after which I crossed the Big Black and bivouacked 1 mile beyond. May 20, marched 19 miles to within 1 mile of our lines around Vicksburg, and bivouacked at 11 p. m. in a deep ravine with the First Brigade of our DIVISION. May 21, moved out and took position in front of, and about half a mile distant from, the rebel forts. May 22, at 9. 30 a. m. , moved forward to within 300 yards of the forts. While in position in a ravine, 1 captain and 2 men of my regiment were wounded and carried from the field. At about 3 p. m. we moved (3 miles) to the right of the enemy's lines, and bivouacked in a ravine on the left of the One hundred and eighteenth Illinois. Here we received a two days' supply of rations. May 23, moved out and took position at 8 a. m. in a ravine in front of the center of the enemy's right, which we occupied until 3 p. m. , when we were moved back (3 miles) to the position occupied on the 21st, where we now are. Total distance marched, 191 ½ miles. During the marches from Milliken's Bend the regiment received less than an average of one-THIRD rations, but, notwithstanding this, it is worthy of note that during the whole of this trying but brilliant campaign not a murmur was heard in the ranks. Respectfully, D. B. HILLIS, Captain WILLIAM W. McCAMMON, |